Remaining oil rig burn victims released from hospital

Remaining oil rig burn victims released from hospital

The three remaining burn victims from the Nov. 16 explosion on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico will be discharged from Baton Rouge General Medical Center in time for the holidays, hospital officials said in a news release.

Dr. Jeffery Littleton described the three Filipino men as “in good condition” in the release.

A fourth burn victim, Avelino Tajonera, 49, died from injuries sustained in the explosion on Nov. 23.

State Sen. David R. Heitmeier, chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee, visited the remaining workers Friday and said he was “inspired by their recovery,” the release says.

The fire broke out on the deck of a platform owned by Black Elk Energy, about 20 miles south of Grand Isle, while workers were using a torch to cut an oil line, according to news reports at the time of the incident. All four men were working for Grand Isle Shipyard Inc., which had a contract with Black Elk Energy to refurbish the platform.